Being organized is fun!

I found this photo while browsing a magazine in Home Depot. I loved how organized this would allow me to be (I certainly can use all the help I can get).

Found the most goregous material!

As you know, I am in the process of reupholstering four chairs that I found on the cheap at Home Goods. I found this great material at JoAnn Fabrics (special order). I sent Brian around the store trying to find a woman who would give him a 40% off coupon. We were in luck! The cashier at the front of the store took one out of the garbage for him! So here it is...

How hard can it be? Found a great deal on 4 chairs from Home Goods!

I spent the majority of last Saturday in Binghamton, NY. The Vestal Parkway is a one-stop shop for people like me who are trying to fill their homes with chic style while keep their bank accounts afloat. I went into Olum's Furniture store and stumbled up a beautiful accent chair. I knew I would need four so I was hoping the price wouldn't be too high. I sat in the chair, smushed myself around attempting to make sure this was "the one." I came to the conclusion that I liked both the look and the comfort so I decided I'd buy 4. AND THEN...I looked at the price tag...DOOM...$599 per chair. Let's just say that wasn't going to happen unless they tripled teacher's salaries. So, I left Olum's, not in a terrible mood, because I had four more hot spots to hit. I made my way to Michael's, where I found artwork to fill my entire house! I stopped at Kohl's and found a really cute B and D to hang in the dining room (Brian and Danielle). And lastly, Home Goods. I always travel through Home Goods very carefully as to not miss anything. I was making my last rounds and found 4, yes 4, perfectly shaped, wonderfully cheap, accent chairs. One hurdle to jump, they would need to be reupholstered. I felt a sense of "YOU CAN DO IT" come over me and then next thing I know I'm loading chairs into my two door civic. The chairs were $129 a piece. What a huge savings!!! I started this project and I'm so excited to see the finished product!

Holy Window Seat!

Let's just say I'm pretty excited (and nervous) because my window seat is being built today by one of my colleagues. I got a quote from a GC and he wanted $1000 to build it. Let's just say I told the GC that we'd call him. I think we want to install something with recessed panels and surround the enire box with decorative trim. I want it to look similar to the one in the picture (minus the outlet in the dead center). Well, I will publish the pictures of before, during, and after and hopefully we'll all agree that it looks wonderful!

House on hold...

The house is going to be on hold for a day or two because my grandmother is coming to visit. She claims she wants to see the house, but I know she just really misses me. So gram will be here around 2:30. I'm thinking I'll give her a brief tour (she'll probably faint when she sees how messy the upstairs is), then we'll go to dinner and then relax in the newly 1/2 decorated Mancave. We'll probably hit up Bed, Bath, and Beyond too because who doesn't love a trip there?! I am currently on the prowl to find three frames that are 16 x 20 in a black finish. I was so excited when I went to Wal-mart and found 16 x 20 frames for under $20 bucks! And then I realized they were brown! I was half tempted to buy them and spray paint them because they were 1. convenient, 2. inexpensive, but I thought to myself, Danielle, be patient. So needless to say, I skipped on the frames. I am hoping to resume working on the house Friday, but Junior Prom is on Saturday, so I'll be taking time out of my day to chaperone that. The house will be there when I get back :)

A glimpse :)

So, as promised, I will share a few pics of the Mancave thus far. I'm basically highlighting what took me four hours to do; hang FLOATING SHELVES! The directions were five steps so I assumed the hanging would be easy. Let's just say that the joke was on me! Anyway, the room is coming together nicely. Here's a small view...

Mancave update!

Mood: Pumped!

Yesterday I ran right home after teaching and started on the house. I couldn't wait to do something to snaz up the place. I began by returning the THIRD carpet I had purchased, stopped at a local art store (Artware) to look at frames, and then one more pit stop at Lowe's to buy floating shelves.

Funny story about Lowes...I bought four floating shelves, checked out, got out to my car, thought they were too big, returned them, walked back in, realized they were the right size, bought them again, and was finally on my way.

After four long hours of trying to figure a five step process, the shelves were hung! I may have taken a few breaks in that four hour period to eat chinese food, watch tv, listen to music, etc., but it was still definitely a long process.

Brian was pretty excited when he got home. I made him close his eyes and I walked him over to the other side of the room where he could take in the shelves from the best angle. He loved them. I did too. I called my grandmother at 10:30 just to tell her I loved my new shelves. She pretended to be as excited I was. Thanks for that.

The Mancave gone classy!

When my fiance and I purchased the house he declared the room off the main livingroom his "mancave." He kept making mentions of decorating with beer signs and a dartboard-AS IF! Well, long story short, I finally caved in and told him the room could be whatever he wanted or liked. Months have gone by and Brian's room still sits bare with nothing on the walls or any personal flare added. Last week, I told Brian that it was time for the room to take shape. I gave him a catalog full of curtains to thumb through and even dragged him to Home Goods on the way home from NYC. Good News! Brian has decided on a few things (with a little help) and we are starting his room today! I will be sure to post before and after pics, so take a look and let us know what you think! Did I mention, there are no beer signs in this design scheme?!